All set for Pairs shot
Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris will fly the R.E.D Bandits, powered by…
Bid for Bounceback at Bears
Team manager Stewart Dickson is calling on the R.E.D Bandits. powered by STS to put the disappointment of last week behind them and fight on to the end of the season.
The two-point home defeat by Oxford and more comprehensive reverse at Edinburgh the previous night both saw Berwick providing eight heat winners on the night. Failure to fill the minor places has been a familiar tale for Berwick this season with their middle order rarely firing together.
It means that with six meeting left to race they are relying on teams above them to drop points if they are to force their way into play-off contention. Of course that means the Bandits can barely afford to drop another point and the toughest test is likely to come tonight (Friday) at Redcar.
The Bears currently fill the fourth and final play-off spot – and have a meeting in hand over those above and below them – following their comfortable victory at Oxford on Wednesday night.
| Team | P | W | WD | LD | L | F | A | Ag | Pt |
| Poole Pirates | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 686 | 574 | 5 | 27 |
| Glasgow Tigers | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 520 | 470 | 4 | 22 |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 492 | 479 | 3 | 15 |
| Redcar Bears | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 452 | 448 | 2 | 12 |
| —————————— | — | —- | —- | — | — | —- | —- | — | — |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 536 | 542 | 2 | 12 |
| Scunthorpe Scorpions | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 507 | 572 | 1 | 10 |
| Plymouth Gladiators | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 472 | 515 | 2 | 8 |
| Berwick Bandits | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 412 | 470 | 0 | 7 |
| Workington Comets | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 311 | 318 | 2 | 6* |
Cab Direct Championship Up to and including 06 August *Deducted two points for regulation breach
Former Bandits’ skipper Leon Flint led the way with a paid maximum at Cowley guesting in place of Erik Riss but, with two other meetings taking place on Friday, Redcar seem likely to use rider-replacement for the German.
For Berwick Nick Morris continues to acclimatise after flying in from Australia last week and has three meetings under his belt after making his Premiership debut for Sheffield in their win at Birmingham on Monday.
Our other recent signing, Dane Jonas Jeppesen, races at the Ecco Arena for the first time but has adapted well to the other Championship tracks he has visited while Drew Kemp top scored with 11 points when the Bandits won at Redcar in 2024 and Jack Smith also has a good record around the Cleveland raceway.
The following night’s visit to Shielfield Park by Scunthorpe, who are at Edinburgh tonight, should offer the Bandits an opportunity to challenge for all three points on offer. Tickets are on sale here Don’t forget there will be a collection for injured skipper Danyon Hume at the turnstiles on Saturday night.
Dickson said: “We’ve worked hard to make changes and bring in new riders and haven’t really seen the full benefit yet. Last weekend was disappointing but we need to forget it and move on.
“There’s six meetings to race, lots of points to be collected. Everyone has written us off and we probably need others to falter. That’s out of our control. What we can do is, one to seven, fight for every point.”
Tonight’s meeting at the Ecco Arena begins at 7.30pm, if you aren’t travelling to Cleveland then it is being livestreamed by Redcar Buy stream
Bears: Charles Wright, Jody Scott, Jason Edwards, R/R Erik Riss, Danny King, Jake Mulford
Bandits: Nick Morris, Sam Hagon, Jonas Jeppesen, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith
Pictures: Keith Hamblin
